Can-opener.



G. A. JOHNSON.

' m OPENER. urmutnox FILED ma. 9. 1912.

PatentedDec. 10, 1912.

Wikywmg' UNITED STATES PATENT op nion,

CHRISTIAN A. JCHNSON, 0F LARAMIE, WYOMING, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO BEENER, OF LARAMIE, WYOMING.

,mcon

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deo.10, 191a To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN A. JOHN- soN,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Laramie, in the county of Albany and State of Wyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in can openers.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a simple and inexpensive can opener which is adapted to beemployed to open cans of any size within areasonable limit by a direct single cut and which, during its cutting operation will bend or turn the edge of the can adjacent the severed -portion so that no ragged edges remain which might otherwise injure the hand of the person operating the cutter or the person using the can. 4

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved can opener showing the same in operative position upon a can.-

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the cutter.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary can and 2 my improved opener. The opener embodies a cylindrical stem 3 to which is connected a handle 4*.- The opposite end of the stem is reduced and offset to provide an entering prong 5. This prong is adapted to be inserted within the center of the top of the can, and to serve as afulcrum or pivot whereby the opener may be rotated around the can.

The numeral 6 designates the cutting member. This cutting member comprises a head 7 which is integrally formed with. a shank 8, and the said shank is provided with the cutting member proper or wheel 9. This cutting member has its outer face fiattened and is inclined toward the head 7 from its cutting edge as indicated by the numeral 10. The inclined portion has its rear face rounded as at 11 to its point of connection or juncture with the shank 8.

that the said member may be adjusted to i flattened face 9 permits of the portion to be severed from the top of the can having a,

perfectly smooth .edge, while the inclined fio portion 10 serves to bend the top of the can adjacent'its sides downwardly within the can and the rounded portion 11 further compresses the said bent portion so'that the same is formed into what may be termed a rounded lip or bead l2. It will be further noted that by the peculiar construction of the said cutting element the top proper or the severed portion of the can is spaced away from the lip 12, so that little or no trouble will beexperienced in inserting an implement between the lip 12 and the smooth edge provided by the severed portion of the top and whereby the said out or severed 7 portion may be removed from the can proper;

I am aware that can openers have been constructed which are provided with a stem having a prong which serves as a fulcrum and which also are provided with cutting members which are longitudinally adjustable on and which revolve upon the stem. My

The member 6 is provided with a central improvement however, departs from these devices in the peculiar formation of .the inner face of'the cutter 9 wherein a head 12 is formed upon the can and the severed por tion of the top is rendered perfectly smooth at its edge and is disposed a distance away from the bead, so that no ragged edges remain which may injure the hand of the operator or the person using the can.

It is, of course, to be understood that the head 7 of the cutting element contacts with the outer face of the can and serves as a guide for the cutter proper when the top of the can is being severed.

Having thus described the invention What I claim is The herein described construction of can openers embodying a handle provided with a rounded stem which terminates in an offset prong, a rotary cutter rotatably mounted and freely slidable upon said stem, the said cutter comprising a rounded vhead having an inner flat face and being further provided with a shank which is rounded outwardly therefrom, the said cutter being provided with a beveled portion which inclines outwardly from the terminal of the shank, the outer face provided by the inclined portion being flat to form a cutting edge, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' CHRISTIAN A. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

JOHN E. HARDY,

JACOB BERNER. 

